TSA bag inspections / search AFTER travel (Savannah train incident) [merged thread]
Mar 3, 2011, 4:26 pm
#151
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"Operation ALERTS will enhance the readiness and communication capabilities of hundreds of police and security officials stationed in some of the heaviest rail passenger areas along the Northeast Corridor," said Amtrak Police Chief John O'Connor. "Our law enforcement partners in this deployment represent first responder agencies that will protect and defend the railways during any type of emergency or potential threat."
This was regarding joint deployment of TSA, Amtrak and local law enforement agencies to the northeast rail corridors.
Mar 3, 2011, 5:26 pm
#152
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Glad somebody still has a pair of stones. If only other places could ban TSA from certain operations ^
Way to go Amtrak ^ I'll consider giving you some business!
Way to go Amtrak ^ I'll consider giving you some business!
Mar 3, 2011, 5:53 pm
#153
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This is the same man who, in September 2009, said:
"Operation ALERTS will enhance the readiness and communication capabilities of hundreds of police and security officials stationed in some of the heaviest rail passenger areas along the Northeast Corridor," said Amtrak Police Chief John O'Connor. "Our law enforcement partners in this deployment represent first responder agencies that will protect and defend the railways during any type of emergency or potential threat."
This was regarding joint deployment of TSA, Amtrak and local law enforement agencies to the northeast rail corridors.
"Operation ALERTS will enhance the readiness and communication capabilities of hundreds of police and security officials stationed in some of the heaviest rail passenger areas along the Northeast Corridor," said Amtrak Police Chief John O'Connor. "Our law enforcement partners in this deployment represent first responder agencies that will protect and defend the railways during any type of emergency or potential threat."
This was regarding joint deployment of TSA, Amtrak and local law enforement agencies to the northeast rail corridors.
Mar 3, 2011, 7:10 pm
#154
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Amtrak has always impressed me when it's had the chance... Service is pretty good up this way and the Pacific Surfliner is highly recommended if you need to get from BUR to SBA. Best $12 I've spent on a train ride...
Brilliant PR move too - basically separates Amtrak entirely from the Savannah disaster. Bold words and actions get headlines. Hopefully this gets wider pickup.
Brilliant PR move too - basically separates Amtrak entirely from the Savannah disaster. Bold words and actions get headlines. Hopefully this gets wider pickup.
Mar 3, 2011, 8:57 pm
#155
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I think Amtrak Police Chief John O'Connor may have learned the most important lesson about paying the dane-geld - or possibly the aphorism about lying down with the dogs.
Mar 3, 2011, 9:52 pm
#158
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Amtrak's interesting quasi-federal, quasi-private status actually gives its various divisions extraordinary power. Its pretty much the perfect entity to take on the TSA.
Mar 4, 2011, 12:30 pm
#160
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FWIW, the conductors that I've spoken to on my regular Pacific Surfliner commute all think the random ID checks they have to do are pointless and stupid. One of the guys, during the boarding announcement at LAX, says "Don't worry if you are chosen for an ID check, it doesn't mean anything, it's just like winning the lottery, but no prizes are involved". Basically, if the last digit of your ticket number is the randomly chosen number for the day, you need to show ID to the conductor when he takes your ticket.
Mar 4, 2011, 5:52 pm
#161
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Is the conductor checking against a no-train-list?
Is Amtrak HQ checking in advance, so that it only matters that the names match while on the train?
Just don't see how, even with TSA Logic, this would add anything at all to security...
Mar 4, 2011, 6:06 pm
#162
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What could possibly be the point of this, other than a conditioning exercise?
Is the conductor checking against a no-train-list?
Is Amtrak HQ checking in advance, so that it only matters that the names match while on the train?
Just don't see how, even with TSA Logic, this would add anything at all to security...
Is the conductor checking against a no-train-list?
Is Amtrak HQ checking in advance, so that it only matters that the names match while on the train?
Just don't see how, even with TSA Logic, this would add anything at all to security...
Mar 4, 2011, 7:30 pm
#164
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FWIW, the conductors that I've spoken to on my regular Pacific Surfliner commute all think the random ID checks they have to do are pointless and stupid. One of the guys, during the boarding announcement at LAX, says "Don't worry if you are chosen for an ID check, it doesn't mean anything, it's just like winning the lottery, but no prizes are involved". Basically, if the last digit of your ticket number is the randomly chosen number for the day, you need to show ID to the conductor when he takes your ticket.
Mar 6, 2011, 8:54 pm
#165
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Fantastic news indeed! Social media has given the individual extraordinary power, and it's heartening to see how the traveling community has used it to oversee the TSA. This is better than "United Breaks Guitars".
For what it's worth, I did send a letter over to Amtrak and NARP after I heard of this incident. I asked NARP (National Association of Railroad Passengers) about their position on TSA on Amtrak; they declined to respond. Probably too busy lobbying for HSR money. I wrote Amtrak and got a form letter discussing Amtrak's general security practices. For what it's worth, my letter to Amtrak:
I am pleased to say that I encountered no TSA on my recent NEC travel; just some Amtrak police conducting effective and minimally-intrusive security aboard the train.
For what it's worth, I did send a letter over to Amtrak and NARP after I heard of this incident. I asked NARP (National Association of Railroad Passengers) about their position on TSA on Amtrak; they declined to respond. Probably too busy lobbying for HSR money. I wrote Amtrak and got a form letter discussing Amtrak's general security practices. For what it's worth, my letter to Amtrak:
Dear Amtrak,
As a traveler who chooses Amtrak as an alternative to TSA hassles at airports, I am troubled by reports of increases in DHS/TSA personnel at stations and airport-style searches conducted at rail stations. On February 13, 2011, a TSA impromptu checkpoint screened passengers DETRAINING at Savannah, GA.
The TSA is already unpopular in the world of frequent flyers, and it's a good assumption that high-revenue rail travelers will find their appearance at Amtrak to be equally unwelcome. Please resist efforts by DHS and TSA to expand their security programs to Amtrak. I have far more faith in the Amtrak Police Department than TSA.
I have dramatically cut back on flying over the past 6 months due to TSA and have shifted more paid travel to Amtrak. I intend to cancel my Acela Express bookings—and encourage my colleagues to do the same—if I encounter TSA on the Northeast Corridor. Please do your best to "push back" against DHS and enhance security through other, more effective means.
Kind regards,
Louse
As a traveler who chooses Amtrak as an alternative to TSA hassles at airports, I am troubled by reports of increases in DHS/TSA personnel at stations and airport-style searches conducted at rail stations. On February 13, 2011, a TSA impromptu checkpoint screened passengers DETRAINING at Savannah, GA.
The TSA is already unpopular in the world of frequent flyers, and it's a good assumption that high-revenue rail travelers will find their appearance at Amtrak to be equally unwelcome. Please resist efforts by DHS and TSA to expand their security programs to Amtrak. I have far more faith in the Amtrak Police Department than TSA.
I have dramatically cut back on flying over the past 6 months due to TSA and have shifted more paid travel to Amtrak. I intend to cancel my Acela Express bookings—and encourage my colleagues to do the same—if I encounter TSA on the Northeast Corridor. Please do your best to "push back" against DHS and enhance security through other, more effective means.
Kind regards,
Louse